Hey…how much longer must I lie here? Ah..God, this is annoying. Even my own thoughts feel a bit more formal.
'Master…your words were as casual as can be. Whereas I, on the other hand, must work diligently to repair your fractured body. It will take but a moment.'
A black aura shrouded Kano's eyes when he felt a sudden headache. He gasped for air as he felt as though it was scarcely there. This sensation….is this hatred? It's astronomical…just how much must one hate the other to wield such a result.
'Your guess was somewhat ill-informed…tis not hatred. But, jealousy. An amount this grave must have built up over a period of time. Do you wish to find out where it is from?'
No, it's fine. Let's stay clear for now. I won't be able to fight as I am. He got back to his feet when he looked at his hand. I don't feel any pain in them…are you devouring the sensation as soon as it forms?
'That guess is somewhat accurate. I am devouring at least seven eighth of the sensation. Unless you wish to drown in pain, do not touch anything.'
Right. He took a deep breath before he began sprinting. Damn it, even if my senses have been improved, I can't pick up where this sensation is from. His eyes glanced all around his surroundings with each step he took. A snake fell from a branch above him. Before it could it could touch him, a blue stripe materialized from his left shoulder before skewering it. It then tossed it to the side.
'You need not fret over something so trivial.'
You are actually taking independent action now, that's good. I was getting worried since I thought that you wouldn't want to listen to me.
'Well, my past has been bared open to you. You saw how I came to be yours yet, you never receded the order. That was the confirmation that I required.'
You are nice…you know. I almost forgot you are a murderer. But then again, I have killed too….. He saw a white light. He jumped, taking cover behind a tree before saying, "You sensed that too, right? That magic is above my current level." He moved his head to check who was present. This feeling, I should have realized it Sooner. That intense jealousy….it was from him. But his not alone…should I go? The sound of a slap echoed throughout the forest. "What…." This isn't good. I…
He got up and ran, deeper and deeper into the forest. A black fog, leaking from his eyes. He then stumbled and fell. Before he could get up again, his surroundings glitched before they all disappeared. Back into the void he went. He stood in the water, partially submerged as the water could only reach his waist. The fog that floated by his side glitched out before reappearing right in front of him.
'Must you act like that….that was but a single word you heard.' Kano's eyes wallowed with tears. His heart racing as he gasped for air. Make it stop….please…I won't last like this.
'Tis pure anguish, is it not? Your senses are yet to return to how they should be. Bare with it, you will grow numb to it in time.'
My head…it feels like it's being split apart. I don't know what this sensation is anymore…
A desperate plea for acceptance…jealousy that doesn't make any sense. And now, now…I feel like I am losing…its like I can't do anything. Why does matter? Why! Why damn it! Why, .. He hit the water as tears ran down his face.
'Do you wish that it would stop….you knew what I was going to ask and fled before a single word was uttered. You truly are…a coward among cowards…you ran because one was desperate and the other jealous. Those emotions, they feel surreal, do they not? Unlike the solitude we are wont to, that sensation reverberated the feelings that long lay dormant. You are unable to see fragmented memories yet, the anguish you experience remains unchanged. Tis akin to torture, no?
But, nothing has changed. You do what you must, my voice will varnish from your ear. But, my power is ingrained in every fiber of your being. I apologize for this blatant act of treason, but, if you stray from that which must be done. I will bring death to Calida. I will dull your pain…and as a reward for my actions, you will do it, no?' The fog merged with his body.
"Ni…" what was I about to say? His surroundings reappeared. He was in the forest by himself. His body was trembling from the cold he felt. He coughed before getting back to his feet. His whole body was shrouded in black fog as he felt completely calm. A wave of calm so chilling it was rather unsettling.
He dashed forward as he recalled.
In all shear honesty, she was a beauty like no other. She stood, anxiety painfully woven into her expression. An expression that even I could not fully see as her short black hair, tipped deep blue, obscured part of her face. She wore a gold coat, its edges lined in purple, accentuating her noble standing. On the coat, a bird with six wings was embroidered in fabric that appeared to change color. From blue, to purple, to even gold. None of that mattered in the least to me.
All that did was why the hell was her hair being pulled? The grief that had etched itself on her face as though stemming from betrayal. That's what I wished to know. Why, though grieving, she stubbornly held on to a hand that shoved her away…..and called to him as dearly as she did.
~
"Mounif! It looks like I found you first! I am so glad…" she ran toward him, the hood she wore brushed away by the wind. She panted, sweat running down her face as it became completely obvious. She ran to get to his side. Her silver hairpin was adorned with a white gem that glowed brighter with each step she took.
He never stopped walking for even a second. Or even an interval significantly less than that. His royal blue scarf, which was tipped in gold, blew against the wind. The leaves danced, making a noise that musked the tense yet, eerie atmosphere. There was no one around, not even the animals that called that place their home.
"Mounif…." She panted, "You are really fast. I almost gave up on trying to catch up to you. But I knew I had to catch up to you."
"Why though?"
"Pardon?"
"Shall I reiterate, Tondra? I know you heard what I said, " his eyes shrouded in a white aura. His left hand coated in it as well. Not even for a moment did he stop walking.
"Well, tis because….I-I…did not wish for us to be separated …" Should I have not wanted even that, "True…we are older now. But, I did once promise to stay close to you."
"Tch.." His gaze grew cold, filled with an unmistakable irritation, "What the hell do you even want? You staying with me will not even do a lick of good. For neither you nor I. Your presence is like smoke, it exists only to suffocate. Do not follow me…I am heading out to locate Hadad. So do make yourself scarce." He continued walking.
She followed closely behind while she thought, I really wish you knew just how painful it was to chase after you. I bet if I told you, you'd be surprised. I never lost track of you through out the whole 50Km you ran. I never used magic release to enhance my ability as well. It was unbearable…running at the pace I did…
"Why are you still following me?" He stopped.
"Mounif….are you by any chance, I am not implying you are. But, are you scared of me? Please, do not misunderstand …you said I was smoke earlier. Are you scared that smoke will soon choke you?"
Mounif broke into laughter. Exaggerated, unchecked laughter, as though to conceal the anger that was brewing. "So you are finally growing a big head…huh? It seems what those idiot, has been failures who call themselves a council were saying is finally echoing in that head of yours." No sooner had she blinked than she felt his fingers pressing against her throat. Her eyes widened as she heard him whisper, "You could not track me, could you? Not even with eyes as special as yours." He pressed.
"Well.." that's because I am wearing more layers than I usually would. I thought since I would be with you and the others, I need to keep my spiritual vibrations in check. But I can never tell him that…. "Well, that is because you are significantly faster than I am."
He twirled her hair before adding, "If you follow me, I will eliminate you myself." He pulled her hair before letting go. No sooner had she blinked than she saw him walking ahead of her. She continued walking after him before adding, "I will not bother you. So, you need not fret."
He let out a sigh before his entire body was shrouded in white most. He clutched, preparing to jump before he felt a hand grab hold of his wrist. He turned, delivering a slap that echoed through the forest. She fell to the ground, blood dripping from her cheek as the lightning that surrounded his hands had cut her.
Tears wallowed up as she tried to hold them back from falling. "What did I do?! What do you want me to do? I just don't get it anymore. I only followed you, there is nothing wrong with that!"
He sighed before adding, "I told you never to touch me. Everyone else might be willing to suck up to you but I never discard my own dignity. No one can change that. I will be damned if anyone even tried to coerce me!"
"But I have never even tried anything like that, I have never even tried anything that would upset you." Tears rolled down her face. She clenched her fists tightly, her fingers piercing through the grass.
"How about existing?" He walked toward her, "You exist, yes? You do it regardless of knowing just how hard it makes my life. So, are you implying that you are willing to die right now?" Sparks echoed through the forest as lightning began forming around his palm.
"You already know why I came here, right? But still...why are acting this way?!"
"I really do not wish to discuss this any further. I will be sending you back to father now. I am sure he will be happy. I am sure you thought you could sabotage me. You wish to raise the council's opinion of you. How charming? Your spiritual vibrations are quite the powerful poison. It is a shame you did not stay around me long enough for them to kill me."
"I WOULDN'T DO THAT!"
"Shut up! You are making my ears sore," he aimed his palm at her as the lightning formed a sphere in front of it. Black feathers were falling from the trees.
"Mounif…why do you hate me so much?"
"In soothe, I have never given it much thought. I just can not stand the sight of you. Neither will I ever try to." The sphere grew before it shrunk again. Lightning rampaging all around it.
"Brother….but you are supposed to be my brother!"
"I honestly could not care any less." He released the sphere. It drew more lightning to it as it flew. He saw black feathers falling all across the forest before the attack met its mark. It generated a shockwave scattering water and stray charges in the air. "What just happened?"
As the dust was clearing, he saw a dark figure standing in front of Tondra. When the dust had settled, there it stood, completely unphased. "Who are you?" Mounif asked, his voice stern.
"Me…I am just someone who is here to kill you." This feeling welling up inside me. Was it the jealousy you spoke of….No…there is no way it could. This feeling…or is it emotion? I feel as though it is not my own, yet, I am the source. It is not hatred either….is this disgust? I really just want to kill him.
Why does Calida always come to mind at times like these? She is the absolute best. Maybe I am just a failure of a brother. This sight….this sight alone suffocates me! Seeing her cry right now…it's too much.
"Are you being serious?.." He was interrupted by a tornado kick. He raised his arms, using his forearm to parry. This sensation…he is fast. But, not much power…huh?He was pushed back. Before being sent airborne. Am I flying? He flipped through before landing on his feet.
"You are really not much for brains since you tried that."
"Do I need brains to kill you?"
"Please stop it!" Kano's eyes wondered toward her before he felt a blow dig into his jaw. It sent him flying and crashing into a tree. Mounif followed through before delivering a volley of hooks, uppercuts and jabs. With each strike, Kano coughed. With each strike he bled. With each strike, he slowly lost his grip over consciousness.
Hardly had Mounif relented than he fell to the ground. Leaning lifelessly against the tree before it fell to the ground. Lightning began gathering at his palms before condensing to form spheres.
All of Kano's surroundings glitched out as he returned to the void once more. He was floating face-down in the water. The fog left his body before materializing above the water and rotating him. Making him face the dark sky.
'Master. That was a rather heartbreaking performance. He crushed you in a matter of seconds. That barely registered as a fight.'
Shut up...I think he broke a few things. I can't even move my jaw anymore.
'Do you wish him death? I can make that happen.'
No…you just want to leave me, don't you? You said I would plunge this world into war… if it's that simple. If you really believe I will then let me win?
A blue crystalline estoc materialized in his left hand before he swung. In its wake, dark water was all that was left. Mounif jumped back, avoiding the slash before he was forced to dodge two water bullets. No sooner had his gaze returned to Kano than he noticed that the latter was right in front of him. Two streams of water were revolving around his blade. He went for a horizontal slash hoping to rip Mounif in half. He countered, using the spheres of lightning that had condensed around his hands. He parried before going for a crescent kick and sending Kano flying from the impact. He crushed into the ground.
Mounif raised his right hand into the sky as lightning gathered from the trees. Trees produce charge as well…such an environment is optimal for me. "Now, Lightning Art: Oscillatory Charge: Destruction Absolute!"
'Master. Are you truly about to let yourself lose consciousness? If he gets a clean hit with that attack, we will die instantly. How long do you plan to lie there?'
Hey...you are being unruly. Just shut up. The streams of water that gathered around his blade began revolving much faster when he groaned in pain. Is this what you meant by pain? This is hell…I feel like I will pass out. But it hurts too much. Blood dripped from him with each step he took. "Water Art: Discordant Torrent; Storm surge!" he fell to his knees when the water dissipated. The flesh from his hands ripped apart when he dropped the blade. The art wouldn't so much as manifest. My body won't even hold anymore.
He glanced at the blade as he was panting, No, I want to keep fighting. He grabbed hold of the blade with his bleeding hand before adding, "Water Art: Discordant Torrent; Shifting Tide!" Two streams of water began revolving around his blade when he dashed before jumping.
Mounif, likewise, did the same before clashing his lightning against the water. A shockwave formed as sparks were sent flying all throughout the forest. His lightning ripped through the water before he grabbed hold of Kano's wrist. He delivered a jab, before delivering a crescent kick, forcing Kano to crash into the ground. Upon impact, he coughed before he forced to swallow his blood by Mounif who forcefully grabbed his face and dragged him against the ground. He then tossed him before delivering the mother of all right hooks sending Kano flying and ripping through a tree before being stopped by one. He fell at Tondra's feet. "Miss…" he said before grabbing her foot. His consciousness slipping further.